The founder of development company Geocon has slammed politicians in Canberra as "unsophisticated" for not understanding his ambition to transform the city.
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Nick Georgalis - sometimes called "Mr Geocon" after the property empire he started in 2007 - said there was a "country town mentality" among some politicians.
The government should "grow up", he said.
He is currently trying to build a big hotel and entertainment complex, with a rooftop swimming pool and night club, at Garema Place in the heart of the city.
He says it would "define the centre of Canberra" and "set the tone of the CBD".
Mr Georgalis' plain speaking comes amid a clash of values over the character of Canberra as it develops rapidly. There is an intense debate about the city as it morphs from the "Bush Capital" into what the property developer calls a "sophisticated city".
As he makes his plea for a change of attitude among politicians, a group of musicians is set to hold an open air concert near the site of the planned hotel.
Among their concerns is that the city's current restrictions on noise levels are so prohibitive that any guest staying at the new hotel complex would be able to complain about the nearby music venues and get them shut down.
The musicians and club owners are angry because they say the current law capping sound levels at night to little more than that of a conversation means neighbouring clubs wouldn't be able to operate. An area of music venues would be transformed into a swisher, upmarket night spot.
"We want sound laws that work for all of Canberra," said protest organiser David Caffery, who founded musicians' association MusicACT.
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At the moment, nightclubs emit high noise levels but because there aren't people sleeping in homes or hotels in the area complaints aren't made, he said.
The government needed to change the restrictions on loudness.
"With their approval of this hotel, the sound laws have hit breaking point. We need entertainment precincts to stop grumps moving into the city and shutting down activity."
They say the laws are biased in favour of new developments, and that threatens old established music venues.
New residential and hotel blocks are built, they say, and to keep residents in them sweet, neighbouring, noisy, established venues find it hard to survive with the caps on sound.
The protest concert in Garema Place - Let Music Live, Jam Against a Silent City - is also meant to highlight what the participants see as a scarcity of venues for live music in the city.
ACT Greens leader Shane Rattenbury was due to speak in breaks at the concert. The Greens want "entertainment precincts" set up in Canberra - areas designated for music venues where newcomers can't then complain about noise.
"We see entertainment precincts as an opportunity to be clear with the community - businesses and residents alike, about how much noise can be made, and in what hours," Mr Rattenbury said.
Steve Evans
Steve Evans is a reporter on The Canberra Times. He's been a BBC correspondent in New York, London, Berlin and Seoul and the sole reporter/photographer/paper deliverer on The Glen Innes Examiner in country New South Wales. "All the jobs have been fascinating - and so it continues."
Steve Evans is a reporter on The Canberra Times. He's been a BBC correspondent in New York, London, Berlin and Seoul and the sole reporter/photographer/paper deliverer on The Glen Innes Examiner in country New South Wales. "All the jobs have been fascinating - and so it continues."
